Cyclone whips up a storm to take title

A teenage boxing sensation from Rochdale has been crowned junior champion of England in the 58kg weight category. Laura ‘Cyclone’ Kelly overcame Southern Counties champion and home favourite Kayleigh Taylor at the Mountbatten Centre in Portsmouth.

The Gorton ABC fighter claimed her fourth successive KO after Taylor was counted out in the second round – despite going into the fight in the unfamiliar position of underdog.

Her opponent, from Swale Gloves ABC, was last year’s semi-finalist and boasted a record of nine wins and one loss, with five stoppages.

That was to count for nothing, however, with the Cyclone coming out all guns blazing in round one.

Only 60 seconds into the round, Taylor was struggling to deal with Laura’s hand speed and awkward angles of attack.

As the end of the round approached, Taylor attempted to gain control by going toe-to-toe, trading punches with the hard-hitting Rochdalian. But she was pushed back by a strong two phased combination from Kelly that ended with the referee giving Taylor a standing eight count.

Round two started with both girls in the centre of the ring trading punches. Again Kelly’s physical strength prevailed, pressuring Taylor backwards and almost lifting her off her feet with a sweeping left hook to the jaw.

The referee stepped in and issued Taylor a second standing eight count.

The Cyclone, sensing victory, continued to bulldoze, catching with an explosive right hand to the nose. The referee had seen enough, counting the Swale Groves fighter out.

Laura Kelly’s dad, Scott, said his daughter had ‘totally outclassed’ her opponent.

He added: "I’m a boxing coach myself and have been involved in dozens of championships, but for a supposed novice like Laura to travel away and face a booing and jeering crowd and perform as perfectly as she did. It’s phenomenal."